They say one man’s flesh is another man’s poisonThe proverb couldn’t be truer when it comes to the Asian and Filipino delicacy called balut. Boiling an egg is easy and everyone loves boiled eggs, but the thought of eating a half-moulded boiled duck straight from the shell might be unappetizing for many people. But for Asians and Filipinos, the balut is a delicacy like no other. If you’re still unsure how this delicacy could interest anyone, read on and let’s get the details of what a balut really is, how it can be cooked, and what it really tastes like.
What is balut?
The balut is a developing duck embryo and is eaten cooked from the shell. It’s not just a growing embryo, it’s an egg that’s been incubated between 14 and 21 days. Beyond the ideal, some people prefer the eggs to be incubated for a longer period of time so that the duck’s feathers and other characteristics are obviously evident while they are eating the meal. But even during long-term incubation, timing is critical as the egg would be of no use if the fetus inside dies before it is cooked. While duck eggs are typically used, not all duck eggs are as appetizing as the others. The mallard duck eggs are the best selection of balut anyone would have.
This delicacy is not universally accepted since while animal lovers have their complaints about making an appetizing meal out of a nearly developed duck, the religious fanatics believe it is murder, and some human health organizations believe it is not entirely hygienic is when you consider that Salmonella enteritidis is present in the egg and also contains fecal pathogens that have been deposited on the eggshell during the incubation period. But none of these worries stopped Asians from enjoying the balut.
To prove that it is a gradual acceptance around the world, the Chinese have adopted the balut as part of their traditional food after it was introduced to them from the Philippines in 1885. According to reports, the best street food found in the Philippines is the balut egg.
how to cook it
A balut is not incubated randomly, most often it is incubated in the sand and kept in a basket to retain heat. Heat is very important for the development of this embryo, but it is very delicate and should not be exposed to excessive heat. During the incubation period, the egg is checked at random to determine its growth stage. For example, after the ninth day of incubation, when exposed to light, the development of the embryo is easy to see.
In the early stages of development, the balut is known as balut sa puti meaning wrapped in white . Different traditions have different incubation periods, the Filipinos incubate for a period of 14 to 18 days, the Cambodians incubate for a period of 18 to 20 days, while the Vietnamese prefer to incubate for 19 to 21 days. As previously mentioned, heat is of great importance in both incubating a balut and cooking it, since the food chemistry behind food is essentially based on the distribution of water molecules in the starting liquid.
Often people have different methods of cooking the balut egg, but we will give a special recipe that is universally accepted. you need:
1. A saucepan
2. A heat source
3. Bay leaves
4. Star anise
5. Vinegar
6. Chili vinegar
To process
Pour water into the pot, after putting the pot on a heat source, add a few cloves of star anise, bay leaves and a teaspoon of vinegar, add eggs while the water is still lukewarm to avoid cracking. The egg should be ready in 8-10 minutes. Serve with the chili vinegar.
Note: The egg should be eaten while it is still warm to get a good feel for the broth made from the yolk. It is also eaten from the shell.
Balut can also be prepared in the form of an omelet and is often used to make baked goods. Sometimes the white egg white is not eaten, but this depends solely on the incubation period
Nutrient content of the balut
However, balut is enriched with protein and fat,when heated, the protein content is drastically denatured. It contains 14 grams of crude protein, each with about 188 calories, and 100 milligrams of calcium. It also contains a perfect amount of vitamin C and beta-carotene.
Besides these, it also contains niacin, riboflavin and thiamin, which play a major role in the body’s metabolism of energy. Overall, the Balut egg has a higher nutritional value than a chicken egg.
How does it taste?
If you can believe it, the balut egg is said to taste like a chicken, especially those with a more developed fetus. However, this has only been confirmed by those brave enough to overlook the pathetic sight of a half-formed duck as it eats the delicacy.
When cooked, the underdeveloped embryo has very soft bones that are easy to grind, although the egg can be eaten whole. The food is eaten from the shell and can be served as a dessert, an appetizer or as part of a full meal.